My professional interests have focused upon the application of genetic research methods for the investigation of adult onset diseases with complex etiology (Parkinson’s disease, coronary heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, pulmonary function, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis etc.). I have a long-standing interest in Huntington’s disease and have participated in a wide range of research investigations for this disease. I have been a member of the New England Huntington’s disease "Center Without Walls" since its inception in 1980. My HD studies may best be characterized as ‘Neurobiological Studies’ in that they include studies into the mechanisms of disease expression, including complex genetic modifier studies and a series of neuropathological studies of effects of disease expression in the brain. Additional interests are in the ethical issues influencing utilization of genetic test procedures.I have been involved in a number of studies in positional cloning. I participated in the cloning of the gene for Huntington’s disease in 1993. I initiated the genome scan project in the Framingham Study, and a genome scan in Parkinson’s disease. My Parkinson’s disease genetic linkage study, known as the "GenePD" study, involves an international collaboration of twenty clinical centers in Parkinson’s disease. The study is seeking genetic loci involved in risk for PD. Since 1993 I have participated in genetic linkage studies for hypertension (the HyperGEN study, one of the NHLBI Family Blood Pressure Program Project studies), and the genome scan in the NHLBI Family Heart Study.

Director of Genome Science InstituteBoston University School of MedicineGenome Science Institute

Aubrey Milunsky Chair in Human GeneticsBoston University School of MedicineMedicineBiomedical Genetics

ProfessorBoston University School of MedicineMedicineBiomedical Genetics

ProfessorBoston University School of Public HealthEnvironmental Health

Mentor for Graduate Medical StudentsBoston University School of Medicine, Division of Graduate Medical Sciences

Statement on use of apolipoprotein E testing for Alzheimer disease. American College of Medical Genetics/American Society of Human Genetics Working Group on ApoE and Alzheimer disease. JAMA. 1995 Nov 22-29; 274(20):1627-9.View Related Profiles.